5 Things You Didn't Know About PETA

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What do Sir Paul McCartney, Pamela Anderson and Bill Maher have in common? In addition to being fabulously wealthy they’re also ardent supporters of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Based in Norfolk, Virginia, this animal-rights organization first gained notoriety in 1981 when cofounder Alex Pacheco conducted an undercover investigation inside a primate research lab. Since then, PETA has become the largest organization of its kind thanks to its ability to mobilize the media though outrageous stunts and campaigns.

“Probably everything we do is a publicity stunt,” PETA’s International President Ingrid Newkirk has admitted. “We are not here to gather members, to please, to placate, to make friends; we're here to hold the radical line.” Of course, you already knew that. Here are five things you probably didn’t know about PETA.

1- PETA has insulted the Jewish ADL

PETA ruffled some feathers in 2003 with its “Holocaust on Your Plate” campaign. The infamous ads consisted of stark black and white pictures that juxtaposed graphic images of the Holocaust with pictures of factory farming. Not surprisingly, representatives of the Jewish Anti-Defamation League (ADL) were repulsed by the crass campaign, and labeled it "outrageous” and “offensive.” According to ADL President Abraham H. Foxman, “The effort by PETA to compare the deliberate systematic murder of millions of Jews to the issue of animal rights is abhorrent… Rather than deepen our revulsion against what the Nazis did to the Jews, the project will undermine the struggle to understand the Holocaust and to find ways to make sure such catastrophes never happen again.”

To its credit, PETA eventually issued an official apology, but the damage had already been done. "Abusive treatment of animals should be opposed,” Foxman said, “but cannot and must not be compared to the Holocaust."

2- PETA has clashed with other activists

PETA’s laser-like focus has led to frequent dustups with other organizations. In addition to their well-publicized struggles with the Jewish ADL, PETA has also landed in hot water due to their aggressive I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur campaign. The ads, which feature naked and near-naked female models, have been attacked by feminists for their blatant objectification of women. Feminist and animal-rights advocate Carol J. Adams has been particularly vocal in her dissent, claiming, "I don't liberate animals over the bodies of women.”